A police officer in the United Kingdom is facing dismissal after a disciplinary panel ruled that he made a racist comment about a Black female colleague's hair.
PC Mohammed Abid, 29, is among eight current or former officers based at Bury police station accused of discriminatory language or behavior toward the policewoman, referred to as PC Y. The panel found that Abid's description of PC Y's braided hair as "looking like a mop" constituted a racist comment. He was also found to have breached professional standards related to authority, respect, courtesy, and discreditable conduct.
This ruling comes after a misconduct hearing where PC Y testified that Abid commented on her hair, which was in braids at the time. "He did ask about the hair, the braids, how long it took," she told the hearing. "He then said 'It looks like a mop', laughed and walked off." Abid denied making the comment, but the panel found PC Y's account to be consistent.
Chairman Jonathan Roy stated that the braided style was culturally significant for PC Y as a Black woman and that Abid's comment was a breach of equality and diversity standards, amounting to gross misconduct. The panel is scheduled to reconvene to determine the disciplinary action for Abid and the other officers involved.
Separately, other constables at Bury police station were accused of mimicking PC Y's African accent for months. PC Y filed a formal complaint in November 2023, stating that the impersonations of her speech and laugh made her feel uncomfortable, nervous, and anxious.
The constables involved in the accent mimicry, identified as PCs Heena Rani, Lucy Granby, Demi Green, Matthew Barlow, and Matthew Hill, along with former PCs Jake Holt and another identified only as A, were also found to have committed gross misconduct. The panel rejected their claims that the mimicry was part of friendly office banter, noting that officers outside their team had heard the accents being imitated.
Sergeant Adrian Bick, who supervised the team, was cleared of breaching equality and diversity standards. However, he was found to have breached professional standards for authority, respect, courtesy, and discreditable conduct after commenting on a photograph of a Black fraud suspect, saying PC Y could be her mother. This comment was repeated to PC Y by PC Green. The panel deemed Bick's comment thoughtless and insensitive but accepted he did not intend it to be racist.
Abid is the brother of siblings who were involved in a widely publicized incident at Manchester Airport in July 2024. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz and Muhammad Amaad resisted arrest after Amaaz allegedly headbutted a tourist. While Amaaz was jailed for assaulting two female officers, juries could not reach verdicts on whether he or his brother assaulted a male colleague. PC Abid had provided a character reference for Amaaz during his trial, praising his gentle nature. At the time of the misconduct hearing, jurors were not informed of Abid's disciplinary proceedings.
Lawyers for the officers are arguing against dismissal, suggesting a final written warning for Abid and those accused of accent mimicry, citing poor judgment rather than targeted ethnicity-based harassment. However, prosecutors are arguing for the dismissal of all serving officers found guilty of gross misconduct, except Sergeant Bick, who they believe should receive a written warning. The panel's decision on sanctions is expected soon.